A new report from Enders Analysis has accused major tech firms of failing to combat the ‘industrial scale’ piracy of premium video services, particularly live sports. The report criticizes Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft for their lack of decisive action against the proliferation of illegal streaming devices, which are undermining content providers and exposing users to cyber risks. The research highlights how the Amazon Fire Stick has become a significant enabler of piracy, allowing users to access both legitimate and unauthorized streams. The device’s widespread use has been linked to a substantial portion of individuals who consume pirated content in the UK.
The report draws attention to two instances in the UK where individuals were convicted for creating and distributing modified Amazon Fire Sticks for pirated sports content. These cases underscore the severity of the issue, as unauthorized streams of live football matches have become a major problem. According to data provided by Sky, 59% of UK users who accessed pirated content through physical devices used Amazon Fire Stick technology. The researchers argue that the Fire Stick’s role in enabling piracy has led to ‘billions of dollars in piracy’ globally.
Furthermore, the report criticizes the continued use of outdated Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems, particularly those from Google and Microsoft. The authors assert that the architecture of these DRM technologies has remained largely unchanged for over two decades, leading to a significant decline in their effectiveness. This lack of maintenance has compromised their ability to secure premium content, giving pirates an unfair advantage. The researchers conclude that a complete overhaul of the DRM systems is essential to address the issue, but this has not been a priority for the tech giants involved.